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Ishant likely to replace Umesh

By The Assam Tribune

BENGALURU, Nov 12: Having served a one-Test suspension, India�s pace spearhead Ishant Sharma is raring to have a go at the South African batting line-up and is all set to replace Umesh Yadav in the playing XI for the second cricket Test, starting Saturday.

Ishant�s counterpart Dale Steyn, however, is still battling against time to get fit for the important encounter.

Ishant�s inclusion in the playing XI was never in question but what one was curious as to whom he would replace in the starting line-up.

The Indian team�s training session at the Chinnaswamy Stadium gave ample indication that Varun Aaron, who worked up good pace and also got a second innings wicket of Dean Elgar, would partner Ishant with the new ball.

Yadav, who played in the last Test match, was seen doing fielding drills for the better part of the session as both Ishant and Aaron bowled at the main nets.

Ishant, in fact, bowled for a considerable amount of time as he hurled the red cherry to almost all the top order batsmen including skipper Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and Murali Vijay.

Despite being out of international cricket for a month-and-a-half, Ishant had been in good form as he got nine wickets in a Ranji game against Vidarbha and a couple against Haryana in the match where he sustained a hamstring injury.

Had he been fit, in all likelihood he would have played the last couple of ODIs.

Aaron was also seen bowling at the main nets while Yadav along with KL Rahul were seen taking catches. Yadav did bowl later but it was to the lower order batsmen which was an indication that he might find it difficult to make it to the playing XI. � PTI

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